Shocking: I Actually Found a Marriage Certificate in the Canyon

Underlings and Competitive Sports

I'm looking for a story where the protagonist is a powerful ruler, such as an emperor, commander, leader, or guildmaster. They divide their subordinates into categories and have them compete in the areas where they excel, keeping a hundred or several hundred people in official positions. Those with exceptional talent can compete in multiple categories, but the others competing in those categories can also suppress them or band together against them.